Sungevity, a California startup co-founded by a UNC-CH graduate, is launching solar services for residential homeowners in partnership with Lowe's. The company is offering solar equipment and related services, including proprietary estimate technology.

The first leases allowing wind turbines offshore of the Carolinas are expected to be let next year although some still worry the massive turbines could harm tourism upon which coastal communities depend.

Cree's complaint that a competitor and its supplier have violated eight of its patents and engaged in unfair trade has won the attention of the U.S. International Trade Commission. The ITC has launched a formal investigation.

Talk is fast and furious that North Carolina is in the running for a major auto production plant. But a new study on the rise of robotics in manufacturing should be a part of the discussion. Is the plant worth the cost?

Apple s set a record on Wall Street: It's the first U.S. company to be worth more than $700 billion based on the value of its stock at the close of trading Tuesday. Meanwhile, the company also is investing $850 million in a new solar power complex.

Clean energy-related firms employ nearly 23,000 people across North Carolina and now represent nearly $5 billion a year in economic impact, according to an annual survey conducted by the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association. Plus, many firms are hiring.

Duke Energy will build a solar power facility costing between $25 million and $30 million at Camp Lejeune. In return, the Marines are providing the 80 acres of land under a long-term lease deal. This is the first solar facility Duke is building at a military base.

Cree is entering the fast-growing smart phone market against competitor Philips, unveiling on Thursday a so-called smart bulb that can be controlled through various apps. The 60-watt LED bulb sells for just under $15.

Fresh from lining up a new $500 million line of credit on Friday, Cree on Monday filed patent and misleading advertising suits against a competitor and its Taiwan supplier on Monday in seeking to protect its LED lighting business.

Phononic, which aims to be the Intel of refrigerators, has wrapped up a cool financing round of $44.5 million. The firm has been raising money since last year. Who are the investors? A local hospital, for one.

In today's Bulldog wrapup of technology and life science news: Amazon unveils a "make an offer" service; more new solar sites in North Carolina; Congress told U.S. trails in drones for commercial use; and a Merck breast cancer drug advances.

Twelve startups in the Triangle and another in Wilmington are sharing in more than $640,000 worth of innovation grants from North Carolina. The grants are state matches based on federal funding through two programs.